M.V.Pujols: Cards’ slugger nabs honor
He edged Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, who led his team to the World Series.
NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days.
“You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together,” the St. Louis star said Monday after powering past Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard to win the award for the second time.
Pujols won despite the Cardinals finishing in fourth place, the lowest spot for an NL MVP winner since Andre Dawson and Chicago Cubs wound up sixth in 1987. Howard led the majors in home runs and RBIs for the World Series champs.
The result surely will renew a debate that Pujols once raised himself: What qualifies as “most valuable”?
In 2006, a month after leading the Cardinals to the World Series crown, Pujols carped when Howard — whose Phillies missed the playoffs — captured the coveted award.
“I see it this way: Someone who doesn’t take his team to the playoffs doesn’t deserve to win the MVP,” Pujols said at that time.
Shortly thereafter, Pujols clarified his remarks and said Howard certainly was worthy of the award.
“I think the writers made the right choice in 2006,” Pujols reiterated Monday. “He did deserve it.”
Just as Pujols believed he earned it this year.
“I wasn’t surprised at all,” he said.
Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow that required surgery. Howard hit 48 homers with 146 RBIs for the Phillies.
Voting was completed before the playoffs began.
“I’m happy I didn’t have to make that decision,” Pujols said on a conference call from his St. Louis home. “What you do for your team. The players who take their teams to the playoffs should have some consideration.”
Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee pitcher CC Sabathia, who both led postseason pushes after being traded by AL teams in July, also drew strong support.
Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and had 369 points. Howard drew 12 first-place votes and 308 points.
Pujols added to the MVP award he won in 2005, and was the only player listed on every ballot. The All-Star first baseman became the 25th multiple MVP winner in either league.
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, with Ramirez fourth at 138. Houston’s Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.
Brad Lidge, perfect on 41 save chances for the Phillies during the regular season, drew the other two first-place votes and came in eighth.
Pujols was remarkably consistent all year — a trait he’s demonstrated throughout his career. He is the only big leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in his first eight seasons in the majors, and has finished in the top 10 of the NL MVP voting each year.
Pujols led the league in slugging percentage and intentional walks. He drew 104 walks while striking out only 54 times, and was second in the NL with a .462 on-base percentage.
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